Monsoon's greatest hope this year emerges in the Bay of Bengal; central India likely to be lashed by heavy rain

New Delhi, Friday,  20 July, The biggest hit of monsoon has arrived along the east coast as a low pressure zone over Bay of Bengal. Southeasterly winds will steer this low into central India and dispense rainfall here. The moisture laden southeasterly winds will then advance towards north Telangana, south Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha and east Madhya Pradesh.  Moderate to heavy rain is expected at these places during the next forty eight hours. Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places over these areas cannot be ruled out.

The southeasterly winds are then predicted to move westwards and likely to cover south east Rajasthan and Gujarat after about forty eight hours. Light to moderate rainfall is expected over these areas.

The monsoon trough that currently lies near the foothills of Himalayas is likely to shift downward and pass Delhi. This will bring passing showers over Delhi tonight.

Monsoon trough is essentially a region of intensified moisture laden monsoon winds.

Current dry spell over northwest plains is likely to ebb for the next four to five days as the monsoon trough has left the foothills of Himalayas and is likely to move into northwest plains. Rainfall of varying intensity is expected over Punjab, Haryana and in some parts of northeast Rajasthan. This phase of rainfall over northwest plains is predicted to continue for the next four to five days.

East and northeast India, which were experiencing good phase of rain for the past one week is expected to receive less rain. The erstwhile cyclonic circulation over east Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has moved westward to northeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Uttar Pradesh taking rainfall away from east. Rainfall is expected to increase over Allahabad region now.

Rainfall along the west coast is likely to be subdued as the offshore trough (intensified monsoon winds) has turned weak. Though, moderate rainfall is likely to continue along the coast due to the presence of moisture laden southwesterly winds.